You Have Everything You Need

Is scarcity causing you a problem?

There are people and places in the world lacking exactly what they need. How about you.

What if you are not really lacking? What if you actually have everything that you need? What if whatever you have is exactly enough?

Let go of the expectation. Grab the moment. It's enough.

It's hard to see scarcity as a problem when you have all you need.

-- doug smith

Conflict and Problem Solving

Are you troubled by conflict? Does your problem seem even more broken because of a dispute?

Sort it through. See it through. Find your own contribution and sort out the rest.

Conflict is a complication in a problem, not a conclusion.

-- doug smith

Test Your Perceptions

Have you ever been surprised by a problem that isn't what you thought it was? Have you ever been sure that you were correct only to later discover that you weren't?

Question and test your perceptions. Things might not be the way you think.

-- doug smith

Unwind

Unwind your problems before they unwind you.

-- doug smith

Call It Within Your Ability

Calling a problem too complicated to solve does not solve it.

Centered problem solvers stay positive and focused. Break that problem down into understandable and manageable pieces. You might have to solve it bit, by, bit.

-- doug smith

Keep Digging

There is always more than one answer to eve your toughest problem.

-- doug smith

Go For The Win

Whenever I start to solve a problem, but stop, it causes me concern. Why would I do that? Where is the follow-thru? 

The follow-thru is with you, but only when you drive it. Move it. Feel it. Keep the energy going.

Starting work on a problem without following thru leads to frustration. If you're going to begin, go for the win.

-- doug smith

Different

New problems resist old solutions.

-- doug smith

What Did You Do?

When analyzing a problem be sure to identify your risk and actions in the cause.

-- doug smith

Solve Problems Collaboratively

Centered leaders help people solve problems collaboratively.

-- doug smith

To Transform

Every problem is a project. Every project needs a plan. Every plan needs the power of people to transform.

-- doug smith

Remove the Problem's Pain

All problems contain some pain. The best solutions do not numb the pain but rather remove or redirect the pain into usefulness.

-- doug smith

Instant Time Machine

Generate more ideas for a solution by imagining how that problem would be solved fifty years from now.

Instant time machine.

-- doug smith

Consider Everyone Effected

Solving problems by hurting others is not solving problems.

Centered problem solvers consider everyone effected by the solutions.

-- doug smith

Maybe a Pause to Listen?

Do you ever wear yourself out trying to help someone else solve a problem? It is so tempting to come up with solutions. Even when you're sure they will work, will they really? 

I'm working on taking a pause. What is the request? What is the need? What is my role?

You may not need to solve someone else's problem -- they may just need your attentive listening.

-- doug smith

Are you ready?

Are you feeling a little busy? Are there more problems than you can juggle at once? It feels new, and yet the world has always had unsolved problems waiting for your help. There are more people now, many more, and that does make a difference. Everything is multiplied. 

Which makes you even more important than ever.

The world will always need centered problem solvers.

Are you ready?

-- doug smith

Get Started

We don't have forever to solve a problem.

-- doug smith

Attention to Detail

Have you ever heard the expression, "the devil is in the details"? Maybe it's not the devil at all. Maybe it's the solution. We let so much of what is wash over us like an invisible bath. Disorganization, mistakes, carelessness...all an avoidable bother if we stop avoiding it.

Your problem might take less time to solve than you expect, if you give it your full attention.

-- doug smith

Perspective

Think about a problem you solved more than a year ago. How has your perspective changed?

-- doug smith

Surprise!

Do you like surprises?

When I was still young I learned the hard way that bosses usually do not like surprises. They are problems. They mess with the plan. Surprises take the status quo and rock it on its side.

But sometimes the surprise does not cause the problem. Sometimes the surprise comes after the problem has already been working its messy distress under your awareness. The problem festers, flows, and then goes BOOM.

Surprise!

When a problem arises, watch out for surprises.

What if instead of waiting for the surprise you dealt with the problem?

-- doug smith

Stay Persistent

Have you ever gotten frustrated while looking for the solution to a problem? It's not just common, we should probably expect it. If it was easy, it wouldn't be a problem, would it? Maybe we just need to keep thinking. Maybe we just need to quietly identify possibilities.

What if the best answer to your problem hasn't been thought of yet?

The answer, even if it's just "manage the outcomes and make peace with the problem" is likely there. Keep digging.

-- doug smith

Something to Do

Find a problem worth solving and you'll never be bored.

-- doug smith

Build Your Influence

You never know how influential you might be until you try to expand your influence. You never know when the smallest problem solving step might lead to an evolution of ever expanding and more effective steps. You might think you know, you might not. Expand it. Grow it. Get to know people and work on that problem.

When a problem is beyond your influence, build your influence.

-- doug smith

About That Attitude

Changing your attitude to solve a problem is worth considering (if you really want to solve the problem.)

-- doug smith

Quick Quote: Perspective

The right perspective can put your problem down to size.

-- doug smith

Quick Quote: Find the Cause

Once you figure out the cause of your problem you can decide how to solve it.

-- doug smith